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Demi Moore Treated for 'Exhaustion': Is Exhaustion Really an Illness?

Demi Moore was reportedly rushed to the hospital Monday night -- and her publicist says the 49-year-old actress is being treated for exhaustion."Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat...

Demi Moore was reportedly rushed to the hospital Monday night -- and her publicist says the 49-year-old actress is being treated for exhaustion.

"Because of the stresses in her life right now, Demi has chosen to seek professional assistance to treat her exhaustion and improve her overall health. She looks forward to getting well and is grateful for the support of her family and friends," Moore's rep said.

Now, if you read that statement, rolled your eyes and put quotation marks around "exhaustion" in your mind -- we get it. Why is it that only celebrities seems to get this mysterious illness? Isn't "exhaustion" just a made-up term for celebrities who really have other issues they'd rather not disclose?

Not always, says Los Angeles-based psychiatrist Judith Orloff, author of Positive Energy: 10 Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear into Vibrance, Strength & Love. Orloff says there is "most definitely" such a thing as exhaustion severe enough to require a hospital stay, and she has treated celebrities for exactly that.

"People get so tired they can't move or think straight," says Orloff. "Their long hours, the stresses, the pressure to look a certain way and be 'on' all the time takes a huge toll."

Exhaustion can have both physical and psychological causes -- and yes, it can be caused or exacerbated by drugs and/or alcohol. "Exhaustion is when the body gives out," Orloff says, explaining that stress hormones skyrocket, serotonin (the body's natural antidepressant) gets depleted and adrenals can burn out.

This may sound like a nervous breakdown, but Orloff says the difference is that exhaustion is more short-lived and responds to rest and healthy lifestyle changes; a nervous breakdown is more serious and longer-lasting, requiring therapy.

Symptoms of exhaustion include fatigue, depression, insomnia, anxiety, irritability, brain fog, difficulty concentrating and a lack of energy to be with friends or attend social events. And it's nothing to laugh about.

"As a physician, I believe this is a huge health risk," says Orloff, noting that stress and exhaustion can decrease your immunity, aggravate heart conditions and accelerate aging.

But why do only celebrities seem to be afflicted with it? "That is a myth," says Orloff. "All people under stress can be prone to exhaustion and collapse," she says. "A big difference is that celebrities often have the money to get checked into hospitals for care."

And, of course, celebs' lives are under constant media scrutiny, so if they do check in to a hospital, we all know about it. In fact, the pressure of living in the spotlight can often contribute to exhaustion and collapse, says Orloff; Moore has been the focus of gossip since she filed for divorce from husband Ashton Kutcher in November.

"Demi's divorce is public, which must cause tremendous stress," she says. "Non-celebs don't have the intimate details of their private lives broadcast to the world."